Vending-machine.



C. A. BLANK.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16. 1915.

Patented May 28,1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET I.

C. A. BLANK.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16. 1915.

Patented May 28,1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2- WW Qw w C. A. BLANK.

VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 050.16. 1915'.

mm May 28, 11918 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

C. A. BLANK.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15. I9I5.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 C. A. BLANK.

v VENDING MACHINE.

Patented May 28, 1918..

CHARLES A. BLANK, or MILLER, INDIANA, AssreNon or ONE-HALF TO ARTHUR M.

BLANK, or MILLER, INDIANA.

VENDING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. BLANK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miller, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates toan improvement in vending machines and appertains more particularly to that type of machine in which the coin or check used acts as a connector and causes an otherwise freely movable handle to be engaged with tripping means for the delivery of the goods.

The objects of my invention are to produce a machine of this type in which the goods are kept in alinement upon shelves, the coins or connectors are exhibited to public View for the prevention of the use of slugs; the provision of means for separating the coins which aregood from those which are bad.

I further propose to provide an apparatus in which the removal of all the articles from a shelf is made known to the proprietor of the machine by a signal and is made, known to the vendee by the closing of the coin slot of the particular section which is exhausted.

I further provide means whereby the dispensing device is held out of its normal position until the handle operating it is returned to its normal position. Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent and will be pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view of the unit seen from the operating side;

2 is a view from the front of a unit with the door partly broken away;

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse vertical sections taken on lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken above one of the shelves;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section, through two of the shelves at the receiving end of the machine;

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentaiyqperspective views showing thetripping mechanism in its normal and working positions;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the coin-controlled mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken on line 10-10 ofFig. 9; v

Fig; is a transverse vertical section Specification of Letters Patent.

taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 9, showing the interior of the coin-controlled mechanism; an

Fig. 12 is an enlarged side elevation of the coin-controlled mechanism showing a modified form of the coin-deflector.

The frame A is provided with front walls B and C, and a number of slanting shelves 1, which are the supports or trays which hold the goods D to be vended.

At the lower end of the shelves 1 is pivoted at 2 a flat section of metal or wood 3, carrying side members 4 and 5 whichin turn support two metal plates 6 and 7. The distance between plates 6 and 7 is suflicient to contain one of the cylinders of goods D.

In the normal position of the section 3, members 4 and 5 and plates 6 and 7 hereinafter spoken of as the dispensing means, there is suflicient room between the shelf 1 and the lower edge of the plate 7 to per mit the passage of one of the cylinders D. In the middle of section 3 is provided a slot 8 which is engaged by a guide 9 fastened to the bottom of the shelves 1. p

To the upper edges of the shelves 1 are pivoted two longitudinal strips 10 and 11 which carry the beveled and flanged plates 12 and 13. The beveled portions of these plates are held together by means of a spring 14. The parts 10, 11, 12, 13 and 1 1 are hereinafter spoken of as the alining means.

I may also provide bearing plates 15 and 16, which are engaged by the beveled portions of the plates 12 and 13. 011 the bottom of the section 3is an upright flanged plate 18. 0n the other side of section 3 is provided a bearing plate 19. On the side of the shelves 1 is a gravity catch 20 supported by a base 21. Coil springs 22 and 23 are provided to hold the dispensing means normally in a position for operation.

I will now describe the operation of the parts already explained.

The goods, preferably in the form of cyl inders D, are placed upon the shelves 1.

Upon the operation of the handle, which will be described later, the'upright flanged plate 18 is forced downward carrying section 3 with it. Section 3is carried about the hinge 2 in an arc of a circle, and when brought to the limit of movement the gravity catch 20 engages the bearing plate 19 for the purpose of holding the section 3 out of its normal position. The plate 6 will be Patented May 23, 191.

Application filed December 16, 1915. Serial Nb. 67,210.

mit the release of more than one cylinder at each, operation. At the same time the flanged and-beveled plates 12 and'13 will have been forced apart at thebottomagainst the action of the spring 14, causing the longitudinatstnips-i 10mand 11 to impinge against .the ends ofithe cylinders D for-the purpose of straightening them up and keeping them in an alined position.

'Upon thereturn movement of the. operating handle the gravity catch 20. isreleased, thus permitting thedispensing means to be returned-, by :thesprings 22 and 23.110 its normal closed position- .flhespring 14 will pull the two beveled .PQItiOIlSiOf the plates 12 and 18 toward each other, thus-returning the nalini-ng means to its vnormal position. Upon the lowering: of the plate (tent of the path of the cylinders D soas tospermit ione cylinder Detobe rolled off the end, the plate 7 will descend .into iengagement with; the shelf 1,-to preclude thepassageof any :furtherv cylinders of goods D.

. 1 Upon the release OfllllBg'SQCblOIl 3, the plate 7 wills-be removed from its engagement with the ;she-lf-.1-, .and plate 6 will be returned to its normal position, and. one cylinder of goods D willw'be permitted to ro1l=down to thenendof the? shelf 1,v and be stopped by plate 6.

A ch-ute:24 leads to small eup-for the return-of i'bad coins or slugs,;-or to, a receptacle orrthe interior of the machine for their collection. ,Each shelf 1, in a unit,;and I pnefer-ably previdesix shelves,-is given a chute such as\25 controlling the operation of that sepanateishelf. This chute 25 mounted upon wall B,=,h as a; bulge 26 and a slot 26?, so that a coin in dropping into the chute 25 will ;be forced outward by the .bulge 26 into 131,16v slot 26 in a -position to-be, engaged'by the trippingwmeans. Beside; the bottom of the chute25; is located a defiectorf27 .pivoted-at 28 011. wall B.

-Qne ended? this deflector 27 has a flange 29-, which isadapted tohe -placed.- in the path of the coinsdn chute 25. At the other end of the-defleetor27 is placed -.,a coilspring 30, which connects the deflectorwitha bell cranhlever; 31 pivoted at, 32011- =wall B. This ev 12 i engaged with and eper-ated bya, stud; .33 located ,on .the, plate 5; of the d ens n eans. a

-.'lhis= lever 31 is normally in a, raised positienie is held ther by ea s of spring 3.44 ,Thefiangeg29,.onthedeflector 27 is norrea ly cu Qfithepa f coin and is held so by, means ,of ahstraightspring 3.5. A modification, of; the deflector 27. is shown 1 in liiayzmrin.wh ch't deflector 27 is. inthe form of a tube normally directed at and opening in the chute 24, so that bad coins may be passed thereinto, thetube-directing the coins in to the chute 36 for the pasthat theicoin is visible in its passage therethrough. Each of the coin chutes 86 has a sharp bend 37. Imay, alsoprovide an -orificc- 38 -forithe removal of slugs if-desired. These chutes 36 open into a coin chute 39, which leads; to a common receptacle, not shown,- for all the coins traveling from the exhibiting chutes 36. These chutes 36 are supported between walls B and C and: are for the purpose of exhibiting all but a small portionof the coin, thus disclosing any attempt touse a slug or like device.

The chutes 36 are so arranged thateach coin kicks the coin which precedes it into the .chute139. :The chutes 36 are joined to the chutes 25 at an angle and: are adaptedto receive the coins which the flange 29 on the deflector 27 gets-in the way of to prevent their passage into the chute 24. At :40 on'ztherear of the machine lever 41 is pivoted. This lever 41 extends the entire length of the machine and an ,end of the lever protrudes through the slot 42 in the face of the machine. Spring 42 is connected to the lever 41 andthe, frame A forthepur-pose of holding the lever 41 at the top of theslot 42.

'This lever 41 carries tripping lever'43 which is provided .with projections 44. and 45, which extend beyond lever 41 at both edges thereof. A -bolt 46 extends through theprojections44 and 45 and leverw41, to form a pivot for the lever 43. At the other end of the projections a cross strip 47 i is affixed in. close proximity to the .chute 25 and slot 26. At the other .end of the trip ping lever. 43 a stud 48 is rigidly attached which passes laterally, through the lever 41. The free end of thestud 48 is provided with a head 49.

The tripping lever 43 is forced out from the lever41by means of a spring 50, whereby one end .of.the tripping lever 43 is normally forced away from the loverg41.

A block 51 having a countersink 52 is attached to, the sideof lever-411 and the stud 48 will protrude through a suitable orifice inthe block 51,,and the head 491 of the stud 48' will be received in the countersink 52.

A cross piece 53 vcarrying alight bar 54 is pivoted .onthe lowerside ofieach shelf 1. To thewside of the cross bar is attached a lever 55, the oppositeends of. which are puncturedas at 56 and 57 andare adapted to receive wires 58 and 59 therein The wire 58 is. connected to. either a mechanical-or electrical signal of some sort, not shown, for the purpose of warning the proprietor-0r owner of the machine that the goods on the shelf are exhausted. The wire 59 is connected to a bell-crank-lever 60 so located that one end of the lever can close the coin slot 61, the bell crank lever being normally held in a position away from the slot 61 by means of a flat spring 62. At the bottom of the space between the walls B and C, I provide a slanting surface 63 which is padded so as to break the fall of the cylinders D, which upon striking it roll under the front wall 64 and into the box 65 from whence they can be readily taken, as they roll off the shelves.

The front of each unit is covered by a glass door so that the cylinders D and coin exhibiting chute 36 may be plainly seen. I also provide reinforcing bars 66 within the door for the purpose of protecting the glass from possible contact with the cylinders D in their fall.

Upon the insertion of the coin into my machine it drops down into the chute 25 and strikes the bulge 26 which forces it out against the cross piece 47 on the trip lever 43. Upon the pushing down of the lever 41 in the slot 42 the coin will be frictionally engaged by the cross piece 47 and as the lever is depressed the coin mounting upon the bulge 216 in the chute 25 will protrude through the slot 26 and will force the cross strip 47 away from the chute 25, which will cause the tripping lever 43 to oscillate about the pivot 46 against the action of the spring 50. Ihe stud 48 will be forced laterally through the lever 41, and block 51 causing the head l9 of the stud 48 to protrude beyond the countersink 52 and come into engagement with the upright flange 18 attached to the dispensing means, which will be caused to operate as previously set forth.

Upon the depression of the dispensing means, the bell crank lever 31 and the deflector 27 will be pushed over so that when the coin is forced past the bulge 2'6 by the cross strip 47, it will be permitted to drop by gravity, if a good coin, and will be deflected into the chute 36. If however, the coin is small or otherwise incapable of operating the machine, the cross strip 4L7 will be forced but a little way in or away from the chute 25 when the coin will have reached the end of the bulge 26, and the coin will by gravity drop down the chute 24, as the deflector will not be operated unless and until the dispensing means is appreciably depressed.

It is apparent that there are many opportunities for a departure from the exact description herein set forth. For instance, instead of having the coin chute 36 lead into a common chute 39, I may provide an individual collector for each shelf. Or I may have all of the coins pass immediately into a compartment beneath in which an operator might investigate the coins used. The

operator might be placed'so as to manually control the operation of the levers for the dropping of the cylinders from the shelf.

It is, of course, obvious that I may use any sort of slug protectors or preventers such as magnets, etc., in the chute 25 in ad dition to theprotection already set forth, hence I do not wish to limit myself to the invention as set forth in the specification and drawings, but- I claim:

1. In a vending machine, a shelf having pivotally mounted sides, actuated means connected thereto, and actuating means for positively engaging said actuated means for alining the goods upon the shelf.

2. In a vending machine, the combination with a frame, of a shelf, strips pivotally mounted upon said shelf, and actuating means, in engagement with the said actuated means for oscillating the strips about their pivots for the purpose of alining goods upon said shelf.

3. In a vending machine, the combination with a frame, of a shelf, longitudinal strips pivoted thereon, beveled actuated means mounted on said strips, dispensing means mounted upon said shelf in engagement with said beveled actuated means, means for opcrating said dispensing means, the whole being so arranged that upon the operation of the dispensing means the longitudinal strips will be oscillated about their pivots on the shelf for the purpose of alining goods upon said shelf.

4. In a vending machine, the combination with a frame, of a shelf having movable sides, dispensing means pivotally mounted thereon, actuated means connected to the movable sides of said shelf in engagement with the dispensing means, and means for actuating said dispensing means so that the sides of said shelf will be positively moved together for the purpose of alining goods upon said shelf.

5. In a vending machine, the combination with a frame, of a shelf, having automatically movable sides, a guide mounted on said shelf, dispensing means pivotally mounted upon said shelf having a slot, said guide adapted to pass through the slot in said dispensing means, and means for operating the movable sides of said shelf and said dispensing means upon said guide, whereby a specified amount of goods is released at each operation, and goods are alined upon the shelf.

6. In a vending machine, the combination with a frame, of a shelf, a gravity catch mounted on said shelf, and actuating means capable of engaging with and operating said dispensing means, said gravity catch being adapted to hold the dispensing means out of its normal position until the disengagement of the operating means therewith.

7. 111112- Vending machine, the combination with a: frame, of aish-elf, a'gravity catch mounted on said shelf, and aetuatin meansv capableof engaging'with and operatlng said dispensmg meansysaidvgravzity catch :being ment'ofthe operating means therewith, said operatingmeans beingj adapted to release the dispensing means from the gravity catch 10 after said disengagement.

"In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES A; BLANK.

flopies of "this. patent-may be. obtained fonfive cents eaeh byaddressingitthe .iOommiBsIoner of Patents,

' -Washington, 2D. 0. 

